Means for anchoring merchandise carrying racks within transport vehicles



Jan. 7, 1964 a. D. STOUGH 3,116,702

MEANS FOR ANCHORING MERCHANDISE CARRYING RACKS WITHIN TRANSPORT VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1961 INVENTOR. GERALD Dv STOU GH ATTORNEY G. D. STOUGH 3,116,702 CHORING MERCHANDISE CARRYING RACKS WITHIN TRANSPORT VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 1964 MEANS FOR AN Filed Feb. 27, 1961 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS FIG GERALD D. STOUGH 1l||| ll-ll FII. I I'll lllll Ill FIGA.

FIGS.

w iqllilil Jan. 7, 1964 G. D. STOUGH 3,116,702

MEANS FOR ANCHORING MERCHANDISE CARRYING RACKS WITHIN TRANSPORT VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet" 3 Filed Feb. 27. 1961 I 7' INVENTOR. i 22 GERAILD o. STOUGH V 1 IO Ml ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,116,702 MEANS FOR ANCHORING MERCHANDISE CAR- RYING RACKS WITHIN TRANSPORT VEHICLES Gerald D. Stough, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Whitehead & Kales Company, River Rouge, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 92,033 2 Claims. (Cl. 105-369) This invention relates generally to means for storing and anchoring articles of merchandise within storage chambers of transport vehicles, and refers more particularly to means by which portable merchandise carrying racks or holders may be detachably anchored within such storage chambers.

This application is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No. 657,352 filed May 6, 1957, now Patent No 2,988,017, for Means for Anchoring Merchandise Carrying Racks Within Transport Vehicles.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a portable rack that may be loaded with merchandise at the factory where such merchandise is manufactured and that may thereafter be transferred intact to and anchored within the storage chamber of the transport vehicle.

Another object is to provide a portable rack of the type mentioned that can be readily moved when loaded with merchandise into and properly positioned within the storage chamber of a transport vehicle by means of a lift truck, and that can be automatically anchored within the storage chamber while beingmoved vertically therein toward the floor thereof by the lift truck.

Another object is to provide a portable rack and anchorage means therefor that will enable substantially all available space within the storage chamber of the vehicle to be utilized without Waste for storage of the merchandise carrying racks.

Another object is to provide a portable rack and anchorage means therefor that are' so constructed that the static load of the racks and merchandise thereon may be carried entirely by the floor of the storage chamber independently of theupright walls thereof and independently of the rack anchorage means on said upright walls.

Another object is to provide anchorage means respectively on the upright walls" of the storage chamber'and anchoring means on the racks that not only are interengageable during' vertical movement of the racks toward the floor of the storage chamber, but also are operable when interengagedas aforesaid to holdthe racks against displacement horizontally relative to said upright walls.

Another object is to provide on the upright walls of the storage chamber of a transport vehicle anchorage means that not only is capable of resisting the shock load when the racks tend to move horizontally in a direction lengthwise of the transport vehicle when the latter is stopped suddenly while in motion, but also is operable at the same time to restrain upward tilting or rocking movement of the racks and the anchoring means thereon relative to the floor of the transport vehicle.

Another object is to provide a portable rackcapable of being stacked one on top of theother so that the upper spacewithin the storage chamber may be occupied, and so that the gravitation load of the upper racks of the stack will'be carried downward through the lower racks to thefloor of the storage-chamber.

Another object is to provide a portable rack and anchoring means therefor capable of preventing a rack on one. level in the storage chamber from transmitting any stress horizontally'to an adjacent rack on the same level.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention Will be made more apparent 3,116,762 latented Jan. 7, 1964 as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of the portable racks or holders embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a storage chamber of a transport vehicle and showing on the spaced upright side walls of said chamber anchorage members for portable racks.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the storage chamber of the transport vehicle and showing the anchoring members at one end of stacked racks in engagement with the anchorage members upon the adjacent upright wall of said storage chamber.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a plurality of racks or holders arranged in a vertical stack.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing modified forms of anchorage rails on the spaced upright side walls of the storage chamber.

FEGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a side wall of the storage chamber and of an anchorage rail thereon, and showing portions respectively in elevation and in section of one of the rack anchoring lugs in engagement with an upright edge of the lower portion of one of the vertically extending slots in said anchorage rail.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 in FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings, A is a transport vehicle storage chamber having a load-sustaining floor 10 and spaced upright side walls 11 extending upwardly from and rigid with said floor, and B is a portable rectangular rack or holder having, a length substantially equal to the distance between the side walls 11 of the storage chamber and comprising upright corner posts 12 and substantially horizontal side and end bars 13 and 14 respectively extending between and rigidly connected to said posts intermediate their upper and lower ends. Such posts 12 and bars 13 and 14 may be any suitable construction and may be formed of any suitable material. Thus the bars 13 and 14 may initially be varied in construction or configuration according to the nature of the merchandise to be carried thereby. The posts 12 constitute load-sustaining elements and are adapted to be supported upon the floor It of the storage chamber to transmit thereto the weight of the rack and merchandise carried thereby.

Preferably the upper ends of the posts 12 are provided with upwardly projecting pilot portions 15 for engagement with the recesses 16 in the lower ends of posts of a superimposed rack, whereby the racks may be arranged in stacked relation within either the storage chamber of a transport vehicle or the storage chamber of a stationary depot. Thus all available space within storage chambers of the type mentioned may be utilized for the reception of the racks.

In the present instance, the means for anchoring the racks B within a transport vehicle storage chamber A comprises vertically spaced substantially horizontal anchorage trails or anchorage members 20 and 21 fixed to the upright side walls I I-of the storage chamber, and laterally spaced substantially T-shaped lugs or anchoring members 22 fixed to and projecting horizontally from the posts 12 of the racksait opposite ends thereof.

The rails 20 and 21 may be formed of any suitable material such as sheetmetal and may be rigidly secured by any suitable means to the upright walls 11. Preferably the lowenmost rails 20 have upright or vertically extending plate-like portions '23 spaced from the upright walls 11, laterally extending portions 24 at the upper edges of the upright portions 23 and attaching flanges 25 and 26 respectively at the outer edges of the lateral portions 24 and at the lower edges of the upright portions 23 and rigidly secured to the upright walls 11 and floor of the transport vehicle. The upper rails 21 have upright or vertically extending plate-like portions 2'7 spaced from the upright walls 11, laterally extending portions 28 and 29 respectively at the upper and lower edges of said upright portions '27, and attaching flanges 3i} and. 3 1 respectively at the outer edges of said lateral portions 28 and 29 and rigidly secured to the upright walls 11.

The lateral portions 24 and 28 respectively of the rails and 21 are provided with longitudinally spaced vertically open substantially rectangular apertures 32, while the upright portions 23 and 27 respectively of the rails 20 and 21 are provided at longitudinally spaced points thereof with vertically extending slots having upper and lower portions 33 and 34 respectively. As shown, the upper portions 33 of the slots are uniform in width and open upwardly through the upper edges of the upright portions 23 into the apertures 32 substantially midway the ends thereof, and open downwardly into the lower portions 34 of the slots substantially midway opposite upright side edges thereof.

The spacing of the apertures 32 in the lateral port-ions 24 and 28 and the spacing of the upper portions 33 of the slots and the lower portions 34 of the slots in the upright portions 23 and 27 of the rails correspond to the spacing of the T-shaped lugs 22 on opposite ends of the racks or holders B. Moreover, the rails 20 and 21 and the apertures and slots in said rails are so constructed and arranged that the apertures and slots mentioned may be engaged automatically by the lugs 22 on opposite ends of the racks when the latter are lowered vertically by a lift truck (not shown), to permit the load of the racks B to be carried entirely by the floor 10 of the vehicle independently of the upright Walls 11 and rails 20 and 21.

The lugs 22 on opposite ends of the racks have vertical attaching flanges 37 rigidly secured to the posts 12 of the racks at opposite ends thereof, and have horizontally extending stem portions 38 of substantially uniform or equal width provided at their outer ends with vertically extending head portions 39.

In use, a rack B may be initially moved by a suitable lift truck (not shown) into proper elevated position extending transversely of the storage chamber A of the vehicle. Then the rack B is lowered vertically by the lift truck so that the heads 39 of the lugs 22 will move downwardly through the apertures 32 in the lateral portions 24 of the rails 20. Further vertical downward movement of the rack by the lift truck will cause the heads 39 of the lugs 22 to pass downwardly behind and become detachably interlocked with the upright portions 23 of the rails 20, and will cause the stems 38 to move downwardly in the iupper portions 33 of the slots and thence into the lower portions 34 of the slots. When the stems 38 of the lugs 22 are received in the lower portions 34 of the slots, the posts 12 of the rack B will rest upon and be supported by the floor 10 of the storage chamber of the vehicle. When the racks B are arranged in stacked relation, the posts 12 of the upper racks will rest upon and be supported by the posts 1'2 of the lower racks. Thus the load of any single rack or the load of the stacked racks is carried !by the floor 10 of the vehicle independently of the side walls 11 and rails 20 and 21.

When the transport vehicle in which the racks are anohored is stopped suddenly while in motion in either a forward or a rearward direction, there is a tendency of the racks B to tilt or move upwardly and/ or to shift horizontally lengthwise of the vehicle. When this occurs, either the upright side edges 40 or the upright side edges 41 of the lower portions 34 of the slots will be engaged by and will constitute abutments for the stem portions 38 of the lugs 22 on the racks, depending upon the direction lengthwise of the vehicle in which the racks shift horizontally, whereupon the engaged upright side edges 40' or 41 will limit such horizontal shifting movement of the racks lengthwise of said vehicle and will resist the shock load. Also, either of the shoulders formed by the upper longitudinal edge 35 or the upper longitudinal edge 36 of the lower portions 34 of the slots will then overlie and constitute abutments for the stems 38 of the lugs 22 on the racks, depending upon the direction in which the racks shift, and will effectively restrain accidental tilting or rocking movement of the racks relative to the floor 10 of the vehicle.

The head portions 39 of the lugs 22, in cooperation with the upright portions 23 and 27 respectively of the rails 20' and 21 will effectively restrain the racks or holders from any displacement transversely of the vehicle. Thus in each instance the stresses occasioned by any longitudinal or transverse movement of the racks B will be transmitted to the rails 20 and 21 and through them to the side walls 11 of the vehicle, but the static load of the racks will always be transmitted by the posts 12 of the racks to the floor 10 of the vehicle independently of said side walls 1 1 and rails 20 and 21.

When the racks are in stacked relation, the upright side edges 40 and 41 and the upper longitudinal edges 35 and 36 of the lower portions 34 of the slots will effectively prevent any accidental displacement of the recesses 16 of the upper racks from the pilot portions 15 of the lower racks.

As above stated, the racks -B may be anchored as described within a storage chamber of either a transport vehicle or a stationary depot. In either case the merchandise carried by the racks need not be removed therefrom from the time such merchandise is initially loaded onto the racks at the factory where such merchandise is manufactured. By use of a lift truck, the racks B individually or in a stack may be moved into and posi tioned within the storage chamber of either a transport vehicle or depot to be engageable automatically as described with the apertures and slots in the rails. In a similar manner such racks B may be removed from the storage chamber of the transport vehicle or depot. Thus, after the original loading on the racks at the factory, the merchandise may remain intact on the racks until they reach their final destination. Accordingly, a great saving in labor, time and cost may be obtained. Moreover, the construction of the anchoring means is such that the racks will be effectively held while in transit. In this connection the transport vehicle may be either a cargo truck, trailer, boxcar, boat or airplane.

In FIGURES 7 to 9 inclusive, I have shown a modified form of vertically spaced substantially horizontal anchorage rails or anchorage members and 51 respectively fixed to the upright side walls 11 of the storage chamber. As shown, the lowermost rails 50 have upright or vertically extending platelike portions 52 spaced from the upright walls 11, laterally extending portions 53 at the upper edges of the upright portions 52, and attaching flanges 54 and 55 respectively at the outer edges of the lateral portions 53 and at the lower edges of the upright portions 52 and rigidly secured to the upright walls 11 and floor 10 of the transport vehicle. The upper rails 51 have upright or vertically extending plate-like portions spaced from the upright walls 11, laterally extending portions 61 and 62 respectively at the upper and lower edges of said upright portions 60, and attaching flanges 63 and 64 respectively at the outer edges of said lateral portions 61 and 62 and rigidly secured to the upright walls 11.

The lateral portions 53 and 61 respectively of the rails 50 and 51 are provided with longitudinally spaced vertically open substantially rectangular apertures to receive the heads 39 of the horizontally projecting substantially T-shaped rigid anchoring lugs or members 22 on said racks B at opposite ends thereof when said racks are intentionally moved downward in a vertical direction relative to said rails 50 to be supported upon the floor of said storage chamber A, while the upright portions 52 and 60 respectively of the rails 50 and 51 are provided at longitudinally spaced points thereof with upwardly opening vertically extending relatively narrow elongated slots 71 to receive the horizontally extending stem portions 38 of the horizontally projecting substantially T-shaped rigid anchoring lugs or members 22 aforesaid when said racks B are intentionally moved downward in a vertical direction to be supported upon the floor 10 of said storage chamber A In FIGURES 7 to 9 inclusive, the elongated slots 71 have restricted upper portions 72, and have wider lower portions 73. The restricted upper portions 72 of the elongated slots open upwardly through the upper edges of the upright portions 52 and 61} respectively of the rails 50 and 51 into the apertures 70 therein, and open downwardly into the lower portions 73 of said elongated slots.

The lower port-ions 73 of the elongated slots have opposed spaced upright substantially parallel edges 74 and 75 respectively alternately engageable by the horizontally extending stem portions 38 of the anchoring lugs 22. on the racks B to limit horizontal shifting movement of said racks in a direction lengthrwise of the storage chamber A when said racks are supported upon the floor -10 of said storage chamber. The upper portions 72 of said slots have opposed upright edges 76. and 77 spaced closer together than the opposed upright edges 74 and 75 aforesaid so that horizontally opposed spaced shoulders 78 and 79 are provided between the restricted upper portions 72 of said slots and the Wider lower portions 73 thereof. The undersides of the shoulders 78 and 79 are curved upwardly from the upper ends of the opposed substantially parallel upright edges 74 and 75 of the lower portions 73 of the slots 71 to the lower ends of the opposed closer upright edges 76 and 77 of the upper portions 72 of said slots. The curved undersides of said shoulders 78 and 79 are operable as guides to facilitate movement of the horizontal-1y extending stem portions 38 of the lugs 22 from beneath the shoulders 78 and 79 to the upper portions 72 of the slots 71 during intentional upward movement of the rack. The curved undersides of the shoulders 78 and 79 are operable as stops to prevent movement of the horizontally, extending stern portions 38 of the lugs 22 from beneath said shoulders 78 and 79 to the upper portions 72 of the slots 71 during accidental upward tilting movement of the rack resulting from horizontal shock loads to which the rack is subjected while in transit. The lower ends of the lower portions 73 of the slots 71 are spaced from the curved undersides of the shoulders 78 and 79 a distance greater than the vertical depth of each of said horizontally extending stem portions so that the lower ends of the lower portions 73 of said slots 71 are spaced from the horizontally extending stem portions 38 when said rack is supported upon the floor 10 of the storage chamber to thereby permit the static load of the rack to be carried by said floor 10 independently of said horizontally extending rail.

The spacing of the apertures 70 in the lateral portions 53 and 61 of the rails 50 and 51, and the spacing of the elongated slots 71 in the upright portions 52 and 60 of the rails 50 and 51 correspond to the spacing of the T-shaped lugs 22 on opposite ends of the racks B. Moreover, the rails 50 and '51 and the apertures 70 and slots 71 in said rails are so constructed and arranged that the apertures 7 0 and the slots 71 may be successively engaged automatically by the head and stem portions 3-9 and 38 respectively of the lugs 22 on opposite ends of the racks B when the latter are lowered vertically by a lift truck (not shown),

In use, a rack B may be initially moved by a suitable lift truck (not shown) into proper elevated position extending transversely of the storage chamber A of the vehicle. Then the rack B is lowered vertically by the lift truck so that the heads 39 of the lugs 22 will move downwardly through the apertures 70 in the lateral portions 53 of the rails 50. Further vertical downward movement of the rack B by the lift truck will cause the heads 39 of the lugs 22 to pass downwardly behind and become detachably interlocked with the upright portions 52 of the rails 50, and will cause the horizontally extending stems 38 of said lugs to move downwardly in the restricted upper portions 72 of the slots 71 and thence into the wider lower portions 73 of said slots. When the stems 38 of the lugs 22 are received in the lower portions 73 of the slots 71, the posts 12 of the racks B will rest upon and will be supported by the floor 10 of the storage chamber of the transport vehicle.

When the racks B are arranged in stacked relation, the posts 12 of the upper racks will rest upon and will be supported. by the posts 12 of the lower racks. Thus the load of any single rack or the load of the stacked racks is. carried by the floor 10 of the transport vehicle independently of the side walls 11 and of the rails 50 and 51. When the upper racks B of a stackv are placed as aforesaid upon the lower racks, the apertures 70 and slots 71 in the rail 51 will be engaged successively by the head portions 39 and stem portions 38 respectively of the lugs 22 on the upper rack in the same way in which the apertures 7t) and slots 71 in the lower rail 50 are engaged by the lugs 22 of the lower rack B, as previously described.

When the transport vehicle in which the racks are anchored is. stopped suddenly while in motion in either a forward or a rearward direction, there is a tendency of the racks B to shift horizontally lengthwise of the storage chamber A of the vehicle. When this occurs, either the upright side edges 74 or the upright side edges 75 of the lower portions 73 of the elongated slots 71 in the rails 50 and51 will be engaged by and will constitute abutments for the horizontally extending stem portions 38 of the lugs 22 on the racks, depending upon the direction lengthwise of the storage chamber A in which the racks shift, whereupon the engaged upright side edges 74 or 75 of said slots will limit such shifting movement of the racks lengthwise of the storage chamber of the transport vehicle and will resist the shock load. Also, either the shoulders 78 or the shoulders 79 will overlie and will constitute abutments for the horizontally extending stems 38 of the anchoring lugs 22 on the racks, depending upon the direction in which the racks tilt or rock and will effectively restrain accidental tilting or rocking movement of the racks B relative to the floor 10 of the storage chamber A of the. transport vehicle.

The head portions 39 of thev anchoring lugs 22 in cooperation with the upright portions 52 and 60 respectively of the rails 50 and 51 will effectively restrain the racks from any displacement transversely of the vehicle. Thus in each instance, the stresses occasioned by any longitudinal or transverse movement of the racks B will be transmitted to the rails 50 and 51 and through them to the side walls 11 of the vehicle, but the static load of the racks B will always be transmitted by the posts 12 of said racks to the floor 10 of the vehicle independently of said side walls 11 and of the rails 50 and 51.

When the racks B are in stacked relation, the upright side edges 74 and 75 of the lower portions 73 of the slots 71 and the shoulders 78 and 79 between the upper and lower portions 72 and 73 respectively of the slots 71 in the upper rail 51 will effectively prevent any accidental displacement of the recesses 16 in the upper racks from the pilot portions 15 of the lower racks.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. The combination with a transport vehicle having a longitudinally extending elongated storage chamber provided with a load-sustaining floor and provided above said floor with opposed substantially parallel longitudinally extending upright side walls; of horizontally opposed horizontally extending rails respectively secured to and extending along said opposed side walls in substantially parallel relation thereto and constituting anchorage means for transversely extending elongated portable merchandise carrying racks shiftably supported upon said floor, each of said rails having an upright plate-like portion spaced from an adjacent upright side wall and provided with longitudinally spaced upwardly opening vertically extending relatively narrow elongated slots to receive portions of horizontally projecting rigid anchoring members on said racks at opposite ends thereof when said racks are intentionally moved downward in a vertical direction relative to said rails to be supported upon the floor of said storage chamber, said slots having lower portions provided with opposed spaced substantially parallel upright edges alternately engageable by the portions aforesaid of said horizontally projecting rigid anchoring members to limit horizontal shifting movement of said racks in a direction lengthwise of said storage chamber when said racks are supported upon the floor of said storage chamber, said slots having upper portions provided with oposed upright edges spaced closer together than the opposed substantially parallel upright edges aforesaid so that horizontally opposed spaced shoulders are provided between the opposed upright edges of the upper portions of said slots and the opposed substantially parallel upright edges of the lower portions of said slots, the undersides of said shoulders being curved upwardly from the upper ends of the opposed substantially parallel up right edges of the lower portions of said slots to the lower ends of the opposed closer upright edges of the upper portions of said slots, the curved undersides of said shoulders being operable as guides to facilitate movement of the portions aforesaid of said horizontally projecting rigid anchoring members from beneath said shoulders to the upper portions of said slots during intentional upward movement of said racks, and said curved undersides of said shoulders being operable as stops to prevent movement of the portions aforesaid of said horizontally projecting rigid anchoring members from beneath said shoulders to the upper portions of said slots during accidental upward tilting movement of said racks resulting from horizontal shock loads to which the racks are subjected while in transit.

2. A structure for use within a transport vehicle having a longitudinally extending elongated storage chamber provided lengthwise thereof with a load-sustaining floor and provided above said floor with a longitudinally extending upright side wall, said structure being operable to anchor a portable merchandise carrying rack equipped with horizontally spaced laterally projecting anchoring lugs provided with horizontally extending stern portions, said structure comprising a horizontally extending rail attachable in substantially parallel longitudinally extending horizontal relation to the upright side Wall of said storage chamber and having a horizontally extending upright plate-like portion to be spaced from said upright Side Wall, said horizontally extending upright plate-like portion having longitudinally spaced upwardly opening vertically extending relatively narrow elongated slots to receive said horizontally extending stem portions when said rack is intentionally moved downward in a vertical direction relative to said rail to be supported upon the floor of said storage chamber, said slots having lower portions provided with opposed spaced substantially parallel upright edges alternately engageable by said horizontally extending stem portions to limit horizontal shifting movement of said rack in a direction lengthwise of said storage chamber when said rack is supported upon the fioor of said storage chamber, said slots having upper portions provided with opposed upright edges spaced closer together than the opposed substantially parallel upright edges aforesaid so that horizontally opposed spaced shoulders are provided between the opposed upright edges of the upper portions of said slots and the opposed substantially parallel upright edges of the lower portions of said slots, the undersides of said shoulders being curved upwardly from the upper ends of the opposed substantially parallel upright edges of the lower portions of said slots to the lower ends of the opposed closer upright edges of the upper portions of said slots, the curved undersides of said shoulders being operable as guides to facilitate movement of said horizontally extending stem portions from beneath said shoulders to the upper portions of said slots during intentional upward movement of said rack, said curved undersides of said shoulders being operable as stops to prevent movement of said horizontally extending stem portions from beneath said shoulders to the upper portions of said slots during accidental upward tilting movement of said rack resulting from horizontal shock loads to which the rack is subjected while in transit, and the lower ends of the lower portions of said slots being spaced from the curved undersides of said shoulders a distance greater than the vertical depth of each of said horizontally extending stem portions so that the lower ends of the lower portions of said slots are spaced from said horizontally extending stern portions when said rack is supported upon the floor of said storage chamber to thereby permit the static load of said rack to be carried by said fioor independently of said horizontally extending rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,939 Fitch Aug. 12, 1930 1,973,971 West Sept. 18, 1934 2,799,423 Kaye July 16, 1957 2,930,331 Stough Mar. 29, 1960 2,988,017 Stough June 13, 1961 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A TRANSPORT VEHICLE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED STORAGE CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH A LOAD-SUSTAINING FLOOR AND PROVIDED ABOVE SAID FLOOR WITH OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING UPRIGHT SIDE WALLS; OF HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING RAILS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO AND EXTENDING ALONG SAID OPPOSED SIDE WALLS IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION THERETO AND CONSTITUTING ANCHORAGE MEANS FOR TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ELONGATED PORTABLE MERCHANDISE CARRYING RACKS SHIFTABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID FLOOR, EACH OF SAID RAILS HAVING AN UPRIGHT PLATE-LIKE PORTION SPACED FROM AN ADJACENT UPRIGHT SIDE WALL AND PROVIDED WITH LONGITUDINALLY SPACED UPWARDLY OPENING VERTICALLY EXTENDING RELATIVELY NARROW ELONGATED SLOTS TO RECEIVE PORTIONS OF HORIZONTALLY PROJECTING RIGID ANCHORING MEMBERS ON SAID RACKS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF WHEN SAID RACKS ARE INTENTIONALLY MOVED DOWNWARD IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID RAILS TO BE SUPPORTED UPON THE FLOOR OF SAID STORAGE CHAMBER, SAID SLOTS HAVING LOWER PORTIONS PROVIDED WITH OPPOSED SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL UPRIGHT EDGES ALTERNATELY ENGAGEABLE BY THE PORTIONS AFORESAID OF SAID HORIZONTALLY PROJECTING RIGID ANCHORING MEMBERS TO LIMIT HORIZONTAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT OF SAID RACKS IN A DIRECTION LENGTHWISE OF SAID STORAGE CHAMBER WHEN SAID RACKS ARE SUPPORTED UPON THE FLOOR OF SAID STORAGE CHAMBER, SAID SLOTS HAVING UPPER PORTIONS PROVIDED WITH OPOSED UPRIGHT EDGES SPACED CLOSER TOGETHER THAN THE OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL UPRIGHT EDGES AFORESAID SO THAT HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED SPACED SHOULDERS ARE PROVIDED BETWEEN THE OPPOSED UPRIGHT EDGES OF THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS AND THE OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL UPRIGHT EDGES OF THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS, THE UNDERSIDES OF SAID SHOULDERS BEING CURVED UPWARDLY FROM THE UPPER ENDS OF THE OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL UPRIGHT EDGES OF THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS TO THE LOWER ENDS OF THE OPPOSED CLOSER UPRIGHT EDGES OF THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS, THE CURVED UNDERSIDES OF SAID SHOULDERS BEING OPERABLE AS GUIDES TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF THE PORTIONS AFORESAID OF SAID HORIZONTALLY PROJECTING RIGID ANCHORING MEMBERS FROM BENEATH SAID SHOULDERS TO THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS DURING INTENTIONAL UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID RACKS, AND SAID CURVED UNDERSIDES OF SAID SHOULDERS BEING OPERABLE AS STOPS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE PORTIONS AFORESAID OF SAID HORIZONTALLY PROJECTING RIGID ANCHORING MEMBERS FROM BENEATH SAID SHOULDERS TO THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS DURING ACCIDENTAL UPWARD TILTING MOVEMENT OF SAID RACKS RESULTING FROM HORIZONTAL SHOCK LOADS TO WHICH THE RACKS ARE SUBJECTED WHILE IN TRANSIT. 